Classic Weekend in Dublin

Dublin:
Modern day Dublin is a gracious city which spans the River Liffey. The north side has the wide boulevard of O' Connell Street, the Custom House - a masterpiece of 18th Century architecture, Moore Street open-air markets and unpretentious pubs frequented by real Dublin characters. Dublin's south side is the cultural fashionable part of the city with its elegant Georgian buildings, two cathedrals and a castle.

Weekend in the Capital:

Day One: Dublin
Arrival at Dublin Airport, where the group will be welcomed by a bi-lingual guide. On board our luxury coach we transfer to the city centre, where we get our first chance to savour Dublin's distinct character during a brief orientation tour. We then check in to our city centre hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day Two:
Following full Irish Breakfast we depart for an extensive tour of Ireland's capital city. Among the architecturally interesting buildings to be seen are the Customs House, the Four Courts and the impressive Bank of Ireland. Our first visit of the day is to the National Museum - Irish Antiquities Division. Every age from the Stone Age to the Medieval times is represented. Next we have the opportunity of visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, founded in 1190 and restored in the 1860's. It is best known for its association with Jonathon Swift - famed author of "Gulliver's Travels" who was Dean of the Cathedral from 1730 -1745.
At this point a stop for lunch is in order and where better than one of Dublin's famous traditional pubs.
In the afternoon we resume our tour with a visit to Trinity College - Ireland's oldest university. Graduates include such famous names as Edmund Burke, Oliver Goldsmith, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. The college's reading Room: The Long Room houses Ireland's most priceless manuscript - The Book of Kells - a wonderfully illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels penned by Irish monks in the 8th Century.
Our last stop is at the Old Jameson Distillery, where we learn all about whiskey making in Ireland and of course participate in a Whiskey Tasting. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day Three:
Following full Irish breakfast we depart on an excursion through County Wicklow -more aptly known as the Garden of Ireland for its combination of wooded hills, deep valleys and hidden lakes and rivers. Stop to visit the spectacular formal gardens and house at Powerscourt Estate. Continue then to Glendalough - one of the most picturesque glens in County Wicklow. Here we visit the ancient monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th Century, which became a famous school of learning, inhabited by thousands of students from all over Europe. Among the impressive ruins are the Church of Our Lady, St. Kevin's Church and the Round Tower, which is still almost perfectly preserved.
After lunch we continue to the pretty village of Avoca to visit the crafts at the Avoca Hand-Weavers. Return to Dublin along the coast with magnificent views over Dublin Bay.
On this evening the group have the option of transferring to a country pub on the outskirts of Dublin for dinner and an evening of traditional Irish entertainment. Be prepared for a completely informal and very lively night. Overnight at the hotel.

Day Four:
Following full Irish breakfast, we enjoy some free time in the city centre for shopping or private sightseeing. We then transfer to Dublin Airport for flight check in and departure.